A large number of ancient copper plates, coins and nails, totally weighing 90 kg, have been unearthed from the premises of Lord Amirthakadeswara temple at Tirukkadaiyur near Porayar in Nagapattinam district, Archaeological Department sources said today.

The treasures were found in a pot recently by the those engaged in construction work which was progressing in the northern part of the outer of pragaram of the temple. They found the pot at a depth of about four-and-half feet and immediately informed the temple authorities.

Tarangambadi Tahsildar Azhagirisamy said the pot contained about 90 kg of copper articles, including plates, coins and nails.

The copper plates measured about 30 cm long and 30 cm wide. The plates, numbering a few hundreds, contained light green painting. They did not have any inscriptions. The coins are very small and contain inscriptions. The nails are sharp and small in size. The huge pot was in a damaged condition, Archaeological Department sources said.

Informations to which era the articles belonged would be known only after detailed study, they said.

Amirthakadeswara temple is among the ancient temples in Tamil Nadu. Though it is not exactly known when the temple was constructed, inscriptions at the temple state that it was during the period of Kulothunga Chola I (1075-1120 A.D) that the temple was renovated with stone walls.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> PTI Stories> National> News / Press Trust of India / Nagapattinam (TN) – March 19th, 2014